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The prospect of harnessing fusion energy is closer. The successful operation of JT-60SA, the most powerful experimental device to date, built by Europe and Japan, is a landmark achievement for the two parties, the scientific community and industry. It’s also a clear demonstration of their commitment to invest in this technology, which is efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly.

At a ceremony held on Friday, 1 December, the European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, together with Japan’s Minister for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Masahito Moriyama, and Japan’s Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy, Sanae Takaichi, were joined by senior politicians, representatives from industry, and the research community, to inaugurate the JT-60SA facility and witness from the control room a plasma operation.

JT-60SA. Credit: F4E / QST

JT-60SA results from the Broader Approach Agreement, a scientific collaboration signed between the European Union and Japan, to promote the advancement of know-how in fusion through various projects. Works for the device started in 2007 and were completed in 2020 with the end of assembly. Since then, a series of technical improvements were carried out, with first plasma operations towards the end of 2023. The overall cost of the project for the phase of construction, is estimated to be in the range of 560 million EUR in today’s values, shared between Europe and Japan. The project is considered a fine example of science diplomacy and has been praised for the spirit of collaboration, its efficient management, and exemplary execution.

In his speech, the Director of Fusion for Energy, Marc Lachaise, praised the international collaboration and the strong team spirit of the teams involved. “What happens here today will matter tomorrow for the contribution of fusion in a carbon free energy mix. JT-60SA is key to the international fusion roadmap because it provides a one-of-a- kind possibility to learn, operate this unique fusion device and to share that valuable knowledge with ITER. Also, it allows European research laboratories and industry, jointly with Japan, to work hand in hand developing a meaningful partnership.”

Fusion for Energy (F4E), was entrusted with Europe’s contribution to the project, consisting of the management of EU funds and the co-ordination of the fabrication of components by Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, who voluntarily participated in the project. EUROfusion, the consortium of 31 European laboratories, has also been contributing, and will continue to do so, by means of hardware and personnel. Japan’s National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), Naka, where the device is located, has been responsible for their respective contribution in terms of equipment and staff. The partnership between laboratories and industry is seen as a win-win because it has provided them with an opportunity to collaborate and successfully produce the components of the device.

The merits of fusion energy are several, converting it into a promising candidate for the energy mix of the future. The fuel it requires is abundant, avoiding the risk of geopolitical conflict, and without producing any greenhouse gases. JT-60SA will offer the scientific community the opportunity to receive more training, build further expertise, and perform plasma operations which will improve our understanding of physics. A summer school has also been established to attract future talent and receive training from some of the best experts in the field. Any new knowledge will feed directly into ITER—the biggest international fusion experiment under construction in Europe.

Illustration of JT-60SA (technical cutway components); Credit: F4E / QST

Background

Fusion for Energy (F4E) is the European Union’s organisation for Europe’s contribution to ITER. One of the main tasks of F4E is to work together with European industry, SMEs and research organisations to develop and provide a wide range of high technology components together with engineering, maintenance and support services for the ITER project. F4E supports fusion R&D initiatives through the Broader Approach Agreement signed with Japan and prepares for the construction of demonstration fusion reactors (DEMO). F4E was created by a decision of the Council of the European Union as an independent legal entity and was established in April 2007 for a period of 35 years. Its offices are in Barcelona, Spain.

Brochure: JT-60SA

Video: What is JT-60SA?

Source: Fusion for Energy

A momentous achievement in the field of nuclear fusion has been accomplished by a collaborative team of engineers from Europe and Japan. They have successfully generated tokamak plasma for the first time within JT-60SA, the most substantial experimental fusion device to date utilizing magnetic confinement.

JT-60SA, often referred to as ITER's satellite tokamak project, emerged as a result of the Broader Approach (BA) Agreement between Europe and Japan. The facility is hosted at QST, Japan's National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, located in Naka.

The primary mission of JT-60SA is to facilitate research supporting ITER in achieving its technological objectives, providing essential insights for the transition from ITER to DEMO reactors, and offering experts an opportunity to develop new skills.

In the coming weeks, intensive further investigation and testing will continue to evaluate this groundbreaking achievement. The culmination of these efforts will be celebrated on 1 December during the official inauguration of the newly constructed fusion research facility in Naka, where delegates from Japan and Europe will be present.

View of JT-60SA device. © JT-60SA

Source: Fusion For Energy

Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier are the winners of this year's Nobel Prize in Physics. It was awarded "for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter".

The three Nobel Laureates are being recognised for their experiments, which have given humanity new tools for exploring the world of electrons inside atoms and molecules. Each of the scientists has demonstrated a way to create extremely short pulses of light that can be used to measure the rapid processes in which electrons move or change energy.

The Nobel Prize is worth 11 million Swedish kronor. It will be shared equally between the laureates.

• Pierre Agostini, born 1941 in Tunis. PhD 1968 from Aix-Marseille University, France. Professor at The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.
• Ferenc Krausz, born 1962 in Mór, Hungary. PhD 1991 from Vienna University of Technology, Austria. Director at Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, Garching and Professor at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany.
• Anne L’Huillier, born 1958 in Paris, France. PhD 1986 from University Pierre and Marie Curie, Paris, France. Professor at Lund University, Sweden.

For more information please visit:
www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2023
www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2023/10/popular-physicsprize2023.pdf

Source: www.nobelprize.org

The US National Ignition Facility (NIF) has achieved fusion ignition once again, building on its landmark 2022 success. This achievement, powered by hydrogen within a diamond capsule, signifies a major advancement in fusion research.

Located near San Francisco at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the NIF employs powerful lasers to manipulate hydrogen atoms, yielding surplus energy. Despite not yet generating self-sustaining power, this milestone offers invaluable insights for refining the technology.

Fusion researchers have long pursued energy surplus, crucial for plasma fusion. The NIF's tiny chamber, stimulated by 192 lasers, emulates the Sun's core conditions, fostering nuclear particle rearrangement and helium production. This marks ignition when the released energy maintains fusion.

In a recent Financial Times article, the NIF confirmed a repeat ignition experiment on July 30th. Detailed results will be shared in peer-reviewed publications and conferences.

Initial findings report 3.5 megajoules of energy, surpassing December's 3.15 megajoules. However, practical implementation requires significantly more powerful lasers pulsing rapidly.

For further details, please visit: www.sciencealert.com

Source: Sciencealert.com

Professor Ambrogio Fasoli became the new EUROfusion Programme Manager Elect. The decision was made by EUROfusion General Assembly at the meeting on 18 July 2023. His tenure will officially commence on the 1st of January, 2024.

His role will include leading the EUROfusion Programme Management Unit and overseeing the programme’s implementation.

Professor Ambrogio Fasoli is the Director of the Swiss Plasma Center at EPFL, the current Chair of the General Assembly of the European Consortium for Fusion Energy, EUROfusion, and the Associate Vice President for Research at EPFL.

Among his professional accomplishments one should mention obtaining PhD at EPFL, professorship at MIT, being the Editor-in-Chief of the Nuclear Fusion journal, of the International Atomic Energy Agency as well as fellowship of the American Physical Society.

The EUROfusion General Assembly is confident that Ambrogio will meet the challenges facing the European fusion energy research community.

For more information about the new Programme Manager Elect please visit: https://euro-fusion.org

Source: EUROfusion